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Lister-Jaguar - Brian Lister and the cars from Cambridge
This new book was launched at Race Retro, Stoneleigh, 12 -14 March 2010 .
Reviewed by OCTANE MAGAZINE MAY 2010
BOOK OF THE MONTH!
This will be a welcome addition to anyone's motoring bookshelf and it makes a great companion piece to Doug Nye's classic work Powered by Jaguar. We loved the wealth of memorabilia that complements the many never-before-seen images: not least covers from race programmes and assorted pit bumf for the New Zealand Grand Prix, and Cavendish Morton's original rendering for the Lister 'Nobbly'...
See below for another review of this book!
Also see The Last Word for many more photos and a description of the launch...
Written by Paul Skilleter, this is the first of PJ Publishing’s Jaguar Connoisseur pictorial series. It is based on the largely-unpublished archives of Ted Walker’s Ferret Fotographics, augmented by many additional photographs and memorabilia - most never seen before - supplied by Brian Lister himself, and also by Edwin ‘Dick’ Barton, Lister’s first racing mechanic.
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Through this extensive and unique selection of several hundred high-quality monochrome photographs, plus rare period Kodachromes, the book tells how - often in his own words - Brian Lister evolved a series of sports racing cars which culminated in the all-conquering Lister-Jaguars of the late 1950s.

Also included is material on the remarkable Archie Scott Brown, the handicapped motor racing hero who from almost nowhere, rose to take on established stars such as Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Tony Brooks and Roy Salvadori - though his story is tinged with tragedy, as he died in an accident at Spa in May 1958.
The story of Brian Lister and the Lister-Jaguars evokes the late 1950's era of glorious front-engined sports cars driven by the top drivers of the day. The Lister-Jaguar won at almost every circuit in Britain and, entered by Briggs Cunningham, was virtually unbeatable in America. It continued to keep the Jaguar name in the forefront of sports car racing long after the D-type became obsolete. The green and yellow cars from Cambridge were simply the best of their kind, and added lustre to Jaguar's name and to the reputation of British engineering.
Chapters include:
- The Tojeiro-JAP and Brian Lister’s early motor sport adventures
- The first Listers: the Lister-MG, Lister-Maserati and Lister-Bristol
- Archie Scott Brown and the first Lister-Jaguar
- The Lister-Jaguar ‘knobbly’
- The Lister-Jaguar Costin
- Lister-Jaguars in historic racing
- Brian Lister's scrapbook
- The Le Mans Sunbeam Tigers
- The Lister story continued: Lister XJ-S and Lister Storm.
To the same large (24 x 30cm) format and high production values as PJ Publishing’s much-acclaimed Mike Hawthorn, Norman Dewis and Ecurie Ecosse books,
Lister-Jaguar - Brian Lister and the cars from Cambridge extends to over 270 pages.
Also available: Special leather-bound limited edition of only 120 numbered books in slip-cases carrying the famous Lister enamel badge, each copy signed by Brian Lister and the author. See separate catalogue entry.
Nigel Thorley from Jaguar Enthusiast has reviewed this book from an early copy as follows:
Paul Skilleter, acclaimed Jaguar historian and regular contributor to Jaguar Enthusiast is well known for his publishing skills and indeed, over recent years has produced some magnificent works about Norman Dewis and Ecurie Ecosse and now offers another major work on Lister-Jaguar.
This is no minor publication but a major work on this fascinating subject. In over 270 pages with no less than 700 illustrations, Paul has carefully researched the background and history of Brian Lister and his cars.
The Lister-Jaguar was Britain's most successful big-engined sports/racing car of the 1950s and the story of Brian and his cars evokes this wonderful period of racing history. As Brian is still alive, Paul has been able to take advantage of the memories, archives and stories from the great man himself.
The book covers everything an enthusiast needs to know on the subject. From the early days of Brian's road-going modified cars to the first true-Listers. There is a wealth of information and the period pictures tell their own incredible story of the man and the great cars. Lister-Jaguars, of course, feature strongly with some great anecdotes and many of the pictures have not been seen before.
There's a very interesting section entitled "Brian's Scrapbook" with great personal pictures, letters, etc. reproduced for the readers benefit to fill in gaps in the story. There's even a chapter devoted to the Lister Sunbeam-Tigers (did you know about those?) and the story is brought up to date with a chapter devoted to the later years of XJ-S models and, of course, the Lister-Storm.
This is no book for bedside reading as you just won't be able to put it down. I personally found it the most interesting of recent books on matters relating to Jaguars and well worth the price.
Nigel Thorley